Mick Jagger & Keith Richards wrote "Midnight Rambler" whilst staying in Positano, Amalfi Coast: "That´s a song Keith and I really wrote together. We were on a holiday in Italy. In this very beautiful hill town, Positano, for a few nights. Why we should write such a dark song in this beautiful, sunny place, I really don´t know. We wrote everything there - the tempo changes, everything. And I´m playing the harmonica in these little cafes, and there´s Keith with the guitar.""Midnight Rambler" is a song by British rock band the Rolling Stones, released on their 1969 album Let It Bleed.

The lyrics take the point of view of a roaming rapist/murderer; some of the words are reportedly quotes from Albert DeSalvo´s confession to the Boston Strangler´s crimes. Keith Richards has called the number "a blues opera".

On the composing of the song, Mick Jagger said in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone, "That´s a song Keith and I really wrote together. We were on a holiday in Italy. In this very beautiful hill town, Positano, for a few nights. Why we should write such a dark song in this beautiful, sunny place, I really don´t know. We wrote everything there -- the tempo changes, everything. And I´m playing the harmonica in these little cafes, and there´s Keith with the guitar."[2] When asked about the song in a 1971 interview with Rolling Stone, Richards said: "Usually when you write, you just kick Mick off on something and let him fly on it, just let it roll out and listen to it and start to pick up on certain words that are coming through, and it´s built up on that. A lot of people still complain they can´t hear the voice properly. If the words come through its fine, if they don´t, that´s all right too, because anyway that can mean a thousand different things to anybody."

The studio version of the track (which runs six minutes and fifty-three seconds) was recorded in early 1969 at London´s Olympic Sound Studios. Jagger performs vocals and harmonica, while Richards plays all the guitars on the track, using standard tuning for the main guitars and open-E tuning for the slide. Bill Wyman plays bass and Charlie Watts drums; multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones is credited on congas, but is inaudible on the released version.

The Rolling Stones debuted "Midnight Rambler" on stage on 5 July 1969 and performed it regularly in concert through 1976; performances frequently included Jagger crawling around and lashing the stage with his belt. One notable 1969 performance (running just over nine minutes) was captured for the 1970 album Get Yer Ya-Ya´s Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert and was re-released on the 1971 compilation album Hot Rocks. This rendition features guitarist Mick Taylor in addition to Jagger, Richards, Wyman and Watts, while versions from 1975 onward feature Ronnie Wood instead of Taylor. "Midnight Rambler" returned to the Stones´ stage repertoire in 1989 and has remained a powerful concert favourite ever since. The rendition featured in the Stones´ 2003 concert film Four Flicks runs about twelve minutes. (Fonte Wikipedia)

Interesting. According to Nico Zentgraf they already recorded early versions of Rambler in february and march 1968. I think Mick and Keith were in Italy in early April.

Another thought, I always felt that Boudoir Stomp (Jamming with Edward) was somewhat of a rudimentary version of the middle jam of Midnight Rambler. If it is correct that all the tempo changes were written by Mick and Keith in Italy, that would mean Boudoir Stomp should partially be credited to Jagger/Richards. Now it is a Hopkins, Cooder, Watts composition (if one can call a jam a composition).

QuotemarcovandereijkAnother thought, I always felt that Boudoir Stomp (Jamming with Edward) was somewhat of a rudimentary version of the middle jam of Midnight Rambler.

Bingo! I had this impression too!

Hmm... Ry Cooder repeating Keiths rhythm changes, without Keith participating? Sounds strange to me, especially when there's so much Ry-touch in the other tracks.

But if I remember right the most obvious resemblance to Midnight Rambler can be heard in the drums. So maybe Charlie was just taking inspiration from a song that was worked upon at the time.

Anyway, I always thought "Jamming with Edward" is an example of Cooder's considerable influence on the Stones in this particular. And Keith has admitted to have been "inspired" by Ry, whatever may be the story behind this particular track.

QuotemarcovandereijkInteresting. According to Nico Zentgraf they already recorded early versions of Rambler in february and march 1968. I think Mick and Keith were in Italy in early April.

I take it you mean feb/march 69? If he is saying that I bet it's under 'unverified' ie it's a rumour etc. Anyway if it's true, a rough idea can re-appear as a freshly written song later, it doesn't really go against what Mick says in that interview.

As for Brian being credited as playing congas, he isn't really, just percussion which could mean anything.

Doesn't the song live occassionally have slide guitar? I know at Hyde Park Mick Taylor is playing slide guitar on a gibson les paul. At the 1971 show at the Marquee Club he is using a gibson sg but I don't think he is playing slide. I know Ronnie is doing slide on a fender stratocaster at Knebworth in 1976. On many versions I rarely hear slide guitar.

I would not know whether the boys were in Positano another period of time. If I see the moves of the boys that were documented, I guess there could be a possible time gap between the filming of RnR Circus and the recording sessions in olympic Sound Studios in januari 1969, when they could have been in Italy.Either then or in the second half of october 1968. Anyone knows where Mick and Keith were in those months?

I think things are getting probably confused here. I once read in an old mag that they wrote Monkey Man in Positano and for instance Nico mentions the original working title of Monkey Man on his site (Positano Grande) which is more than a hint that MM was written there. Midnight Rambler on the other hand was often reported to have been written at the Beggar's session - true or not. But I have my doubts that Mick can recall it anyway ;-)

Quotesilkcut1978That it was recorded for the first time before their trip to Italy?! But this might be no proof at all for you ;-)

Can you prove that it was recorded before their visit to italy in April 1969!? And if so, what is lyrically, vocally and musically present in this early version that is also on the final released version?

If some early version was recorded before the trip, that could simply be the B/A/E chords played over and over for example, it still doesn't mean the song wasn't 'written' in Italy.

QuoteskipstoneSo what are the verified time or times they were there? If you believe some sources, half of Let It Bleed was recorded for Beggars. Etc...so I dunno.

Does it matter? Huh. Shadoobie.

It's said they were there during a break in recording at Olympic Studios during April 1969.

I think the fact that Beggars wasn't released till the end of 68, despite it being ready in July/August 1968 confuses things.

Downtown Suzie being a good example, the released version was recorded in 1969, but it is often put on BB bootlegs and/or mistakenly attributed to the BB sessions. They may have attempted it before, but that version is from 1969.

I don't believe any actual recorded music from those Spring/Summer 68 sessions was carried over and used on LIB.